Today I'm rapping about body love and words of wisdom from a toddler...

I think my three year old son Mars is soo cute. Like, I could just eat him up. When I ask him why he's so cute, he responds, "Because I'm perfect!" (!!!!?????!!). Now, I've never told him that he's perfect, but he truly believes that he is. And, as his mom, I really feel like I'm doing something right, which is not always the case. You can imagine my reaction when I heard that for the first time. I mean, how fantastic is that? And, he inspires me – my little boy has not one ounce of negativity in his head. He really loves himself and thinks he's just perfect. We all should have that high level of self-love, right?

Many of us are finishing up our Fall Transformation (myself included), and some of us are just getting back into the studio, post-summer. Recently, there's been a lot of talk about our Stop Bitch moments, body image, what other Lithers do, do too much of, or don't do enough of, and what it means to be healthy and empowered. But behind all of this talk about being Lithe lies the heart of what it means to be healthy: Loving the skin you’re in, treating yourself right, and feeling empowered to question, challenge, and redefine your own self-view of beauty and wellness. Loving the body you have, and working to improve your health and head is so important. In fact, many of you are already super-confident and intuitive.Here are a few emails that I've received over the past few weeks:

Being healthy shouldn’t be about appearance, it should be about health.

I'm all about improving myself and becoming healthy and fit. Almost everyone I know should spend more time working out, and making lifestyle changes. It's everything!

Once I let go of trying to be thin and focused on the idea of loving my body, I became healthier.

This Fall Transformation has taught me so much about myself and my level of commitment. I've never felt so great about myself. I feel like me again. I'm unstoppable!

Here’s what I think about loving your body. As women, we all struggle with self-confidence. There are always those little things we wish we could change about our bodies. Whether it’s wishing we had a six-pack, more defined arms, or thinner thighs. My approach has always been accept it, or act to change it. Because of this, I have always used my "imperfections" as motivation to work harder. Over the years I've learned to love and respect my body for what it is because it has been so good to me. It's gotten me through almost ten injury-free years of Lithe and allows me to burn the candle at both ends and work hard when I need to. It has given me my Mars, it takes me on walks every day, helps me sail a 50-foot catamaran every summer, and feels so strong invincible when I Lithe.

And, in exchange, I treat my body the very best that I can. I live a healthy, balanced lifestyle by staying active and eating well. I let it rest at night, take Epsom baths and stretch to keep it flexible. On the weekends I have fun, give in to my cravings and just let go.

So, this fall, as you're working towards your best you, remember that it does not mean that you're working to fit into a particular mold. Not a certain weight, size, or shape: YOU are perfect. Make that your mantra! You're working towards building that confidence muscle – which is the best possible way to learn to love the skin you’re in.

Fall is my favorite season and we as humans are just like the seasons. I look at fall as a time for personal harvest. September/October is kind of like the new year. It’s also just like heading back to school. Like the ebb & flow of nature's seasonal changes, fall is a time to reflect on our lives, a time to examine where we are with personal accomplishments (bucket list, anyone?).

Come October, I often ask myself what I need, what’s missing, or what needs to change. With all this change and incentive to push the restart button, it’s a great time to get back on the horse with your Lithe/fitness routine, and create good, healthy seasonal habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months.

Here are 8 ways to start making the most of the season. And who knows? This year, you might be your Lithest before the holidays roll around.

1. Earlier to bed, later to rise.

There never seem to be enough hours in the day, but if you add thirty minutes to your usual wake-up time and crash thirty minutes earlier each evening, the extra hour of rest will go a long way in helping you adjust to shorter, darker days and the drastic decrease in temps here in the Northeast.

We take care of matching your Lithe schedules to the season (I’m currently creating two amazing new Fall Lithe workouts), but it’s your job to slightly reduce the intensity, length or frequency of your schedule. If you’ve been Lithing 2 times a day AND running, or if you’ve been in the studio 7 days a week, give your muscles an extra day of rest this season.

4. Breathe, sweat, shake & wrap it up!

The Lithe breath is the foundation of your practice. It not only works the core, but it releases excess toxins. Looking for other ways to release toxins? Wrap it up and sweat it out by taking our Wrap Star workouts: Hot Legs, Cinch & Peeled!

Fall is the perfect time to build (or re-build) the foundation of your Lithe practice. Did you fall off the wagon this summer? Are you feeling less than motivated? Sign up for our Fall Lithe Transformation Challenge (or do your own personal 9 day), focus on healthy eating, get back into the Lithe habit and see serious results. Can't do the challenge or a 9 Day? Sign up for 3 classes a week, 3 weeks in advance, and try not to cancel under any circumstance.

8. Give thanks.

We have to keep in mind that very little is accomplished by ourselves. Be grateful for all of the people who support, guide and challenge us. Always remember that the grass isn’t always greener, and that there are people in the world that would give anything to be in your shoes, right now!

Smack in the middle of Lithe Spring Clean, two of my girlfriends and I got together and had a ton of fun with in the kitchen with spices. If you're eating clean, the power of spices can really transform food and trick your taste buds. When I think of spice these days, the name Lior Lev Sercarz is what comes to mind. My sister-in-law, Laurie and my friend Jess (above) both know Lior personally, so it was really fun hearing stories about the blends that we were using.

Known as the spice master to the stars, Lior Lev Sercarz has blended for names like Le Bernardin,Daniel and even Zahav here in Philly. If you walk into his spice shop, La Boîte à Epice, Lior will happily talk you through spice, and then weather, and then whatever you like, really. We grabbed his new book, The Art of Blending, and made some incredible lamb and eggplant dishes using his Za'atar, Dali and Vadouvan blends.

It was so fun to experiment in the kitchen; we cooked and shared, combining expertise, skills and supplies. Stay tuned for our next edition, and I'll be extending a special invitation to all of you!

I think that some of the best activities to do with your kids are the simplest ones. Mars and I love chasing bubbles. It holds his interest, keeps him active and I adore blowing bubbles and watching him chase the big "bouncy balls" around the house for hours. What about you guys? What are some of your favorite simple indoor/outdoor activities that you do with your kids?

Ah, parenthood. Being a mom is so amazing and so much work! Do you remember when Jerry Seinfeld would joke about parenthood? He’d say, “When you wake up in the morning, you have to be READY!” And as he told the joke, he would have his knees bent and arms out, like he was ready for anything that the day threw at him. Being a parent to a toddler is such a nonstop cycle. Everyday, I’m constantly paying attention to where Mars is, and what’s for dinner, what we're doing next, and whether we'll have time to do this or that. Here are ten ways that I recharge and break the mom cycle:

1. Pedicures. Pure heaven.

2. Date nights. Jordan and I have been going on two date nights per week since Mars was born. Sometimes my Mom will take him and we'll stay in, but usually on Wednesday we leave work right at 5pm and go straight to one of our favorite places in the city. And then, we get to an early dinner alone or with friends on Sundays. It feels so good to get dressed up, and sip champagne without anyone calling for me or climbing on me.

3. Stay-cation. This is a rare occasion, but when I'm up to my ears in work and have to get away from it all or I'll burst, I'll take a stay-cation here in Philly! It's a great way to get away from it all without disrupting my schedule or taking time off. Drinks, dinner or a spa treatment along with a night in a lovely (and quiet!) hotel room at Hotel Monaco, The Sofitel or The Ritz totally does the trick. Don't have the dough? Stay at a friends house.

4. blogging. Even though it's part of my job, it's fun and cathartic.

5. Exercising. Teaching is hard work but it's not my workout (it's y'all's!) so I make sure that I make time for a true workout everyday, even if I break it up into three, 15-20 minute sections throughout my day. When the weather is cold, I Lithe at home on the mezzanine of our condo building. If I can't devote 30 minutes or an hour to myself, I'll take a quick walk around the park to recharge.

6. Being spontaneous. Oh, that whole concept of doing something at a moments notice just for the fun of it? Spontaneity rarely happens once you have a little one on a schedule. Some of the things that Jordan and I have recently done: Booked a last minute 4 day trip to Paris, decided to stay overnight in Chicago and have a dance party in our living room.

7. Baths. Every night, with the works: music, magazines, candles, a glass of wine, and salt for sore muscles.

If you know me well, you know that it takes a lot to shake me up. In fact, many people think that I do not worry enough (like, that's a bad thing?). I feel that troubles are a lot like people - they grow bigger when you nurse them. What's my secret? Being mindful and living in the present. I am only human, so when something does shake me up, I do something really simple - I wear my skull necklace (above) to remind me to be present. The skull is a symbol that mindfulness of our own mortality is the key in making us realize the importance of the moment: Remember that you are mortal, so seize the day! From this point of view, the skull is not symbolic of anything dark or evil, but instead becomes a positive symbol that encourages us to live life to the fullest.

With all of that said, Christmas is one of the craziest times of the year; It's kind of like a wedding. We get all wrapped up in the things that don't really matter, and then before we have time to sit back and relax, it’s all over and we forget to live in the moment.

Figuring out your own way of being present is so important during this time of the year, and whatever it may be, it can really allow you to make the most out of the holidays, and ultimately your life. Here are some of my simple tips to help you find your present self:

Keep it simpleEvery year like clockwork, I purge and de-clutter my house post-Thanksgiving. It completely simplifies my life. Clutter is like chaos. It can crowd your mind, and make you feel stressed and unorganized. Cleaning out your home of all the things that no longer serve a purpose in your life can be SO liberating. I highly recommend it!

Don't be a control freakThis is SO easily said, yet so many of us really struggle with it. It can be frustrating when something doesn’t go as planned, but keep in mind that the situation has already happened. Acceptance is they key to letting go and moving forward. Likewise, don’t waste your time worrying about something that you can’t control. Try not to fight it. Everything is as it should be. Try to remember that life’s happening right now...make the most of it!

Stop complaining (be grateful!)There is nothing worse than a complainer. There is nothing better than feeling grateful. Take a moment to look at your life, at your health, all that you have, and the awesome people that surround you. There is always something (or someone) in your life that is your rock. Try not to engage in fat talk, worry so much about the purse that you want (but may not get), or that rock that's currently not on your finger.

Make time for youWe’re all so busy with work, completing our to-do lists, and many of us are juggling a lot without childcare right now (myself included!). Take a moment for YOU, every day. Grab a hot chocolate, take a hot bath, read a magazine, and just breathe. Slowing down your pace can really help you enjoy the present.

Energy outIf you're like me, you may feel really wound up. Like a child, I have to get the energy out. Maybe you haven't worked out in a week or two? I always feel better after I exercise. If you can't get to Lithe, lithe at home or lock your bedroom door, turn on some music and Cardio-Cheer-Sculpt your worries away (yelling included) your way. Having trouble staying mindful in class? Check out this post by Lithe Instructor Rachel Dore, PSY.D.

This ain't no dress rehearsalEnjoying the moment is fundamentalin learning how to be present. Sometimes we spend so much time on planning, and use so much energy worrying that something will go wrong that we totally forget to enjoy it! Try to remember that you can't rewind or play your life out again, so enjoy it!

Our friends Joy, Bob and Ruby were in Philly this past week and Mars caught up with his first kiss on an awesome play-date at our place. It was so sweet watching the two of them play band together. What's even sweeter is that Mars been asking for Ruby every day since they spent time together. I'll post a few more cute shots throughout the week.

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